Parking meter door lock assembly



July 19, 1966 L. J. LAVlANA 3,261,186

PARKING METER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY Filed June l2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet lHMM INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE J. I AVI ANA MLM? @WM/Mfyd ATTORNEYS July 19, 1966 l.. J. IAvlANA PARKING METER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l2,1964 INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE J. LAVI/NA BYE/M117 ATTORNEYS July 19, 1966 L. J. L AvlANA3,261,186

PARKING METER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY Filed June 12, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE J. I AVIANA WLM?,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,261,186 PARKING METER DOOR LOCKASSEMBLY Lawrence .1. Laviana, Kensington, Conn., assigner to M. H.Rhodes, Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 12,1964, Ser. No. 374,698 3 Ciaims. (Cl. 70-116) The present inventionrelates to a lock assembly having notable utility for locking the coinreceptacle door of a parking meter.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedparking meter `door lock assembly having a sturdy and compact assemblyof parts of economical construction and facile assembly and providingincreased effectiveness against tampering and attempted destruction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedparking `meter coin receptacle door lock aS- sembly having increasedeffectiveness in preventing illegal access tothe coins deposited in thereceptacle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a parking meterdoor lock assembly having a key-operated lock subassembly which may bereadily detached for repair or replacement.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will 'beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth, and the lscope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view, partly broken away andpartly in section, of a parking meter coin receptacle assemblyincorporating an embodiment of a door lock assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a pair of locking bolts of the doorlock assembly in their fully extended or locking positions;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view with parts removed showing a portion of thedoor lock assembly in more detail;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section View of the door lock assembly;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a support bracket of the door lock assembly;and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the support bracket.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, an exemplary embodiment of aparking meter lock assem-bly of the present invention is mounted forlocking a generally rectangular door 1t) within a conforming recess -12of a parking meter coin receptacle 14 for preventing access to anopening 16 therein, the receptacle including the door being, forexample, constructed of ductile iron for security. In a well-known-manner a suitable coinoperated timing mechanism (not shown) is mountedon the receptacle 14 and coins inserted into the timing mechanism aredeposited in the receptacle via a coin chute Z0 and are stored thereinuntil removed by unlocking the receptacle door 10, for which purpose afixed coin box 22 having a downwardly inclined bottom Wall 24 may beprovided in the receptacle.

For opening the door 10 outwardly of the recess 12 and clear of theaccess opening 16, the door is mounted by a hinge bracket 30 having anapertured base 32 and a pair of opposed parallel sides 34 extendingnormal thereto. The hinge bracket is pivotally connected to a pair ofopposed generally L-shaped hinge supports 38 which are secured to pairsof vertically spaced lugs 46 of the receptacle by machine screws 42.Accordingly, with the door 10 withdrawn from the receptacle accessopening, the door subassembly including the hinge bracket 30 and thehinge supports 38 may be readily detached from the receptacle enclosureby the removal of the machine screws 42, and with the door locked in therecess 12 access to the interior of t-he receptacle is prevented.

The door lock assembly of the present invention, generally denoted bythe numeral 80, includes a bolt `subassembly 82 comprising a supportbracket 84 and a cover plate 86 which together are secured by machinescrews 90 to inwardly projecting posts 88 of the door 10 whereby agenerally iiat base portion 92 of the support bracket is spacedgenerally parallel to but inwardly of the door. Upstanding from andintegrally formed with the flat base portion 92 of the Isupport bracketare a pair of parallel side anges 94 which, as best seen in FIG. 1, arepivotally connected to the free ends of the sides 34 of the hingebracket 30 by a pair of pivot pins 96. The cover plate 86 is formed witha pair of laterally spaced inwardly offset bridge portions 98 which withthe base portion 92 of the support bracket S4 define laterally extendingcoaxial channels slidea'bly receiving a pair of oppositely extendingbolts 100 -of substantially rectangular plate construction. -Theupstanding side flanges 94 have rslots 102 receiving and guiding thebolts, and the cover plate 86 is provided with two pai-rs of projections104 with opposed parallel edges 106 engageable with the edges of thebolts, it being seen therefore that the side flanges `94 and the opposededges 106 provide edge bearings for the bolts and that the bridgeportions 98 and the base portion 92 provide face bearings for the bolts.

Referring to FIG. 4, a key-operated lock subassembly, generally denotedby the numeral 110, is mounted substantially between the door 10 and the`support bracket 84. The door is provided with a central key opening 112for insertion of an appropriate key, and, as seen in FIG. 4, the keyopening 112 may be enlarged at its outer end to receive a hardenedknurled bushing 113 press t iiush with the face of the door to resistillegal access to the contents of the receptacle by enlargement, as bydrilling, of the key opening 112. For axial alignment of the locksubassembly with the key openin-g 112, the door 10 is provided with aninwardly projecting cylindrical boss 114, and a support housing orbushing 116 of the lock subassembly is provided with a bore portion 118for revolvably -supporting the lock subassembly on the boss 114 with theouter end of the bushing abutting the door. A bore portion 124 of lesserdiameter than the bore portion 118 and of greater diameter than aremaining bore portion 126 of the bushing provides an annular shoulder127 for retaining an enlarged outer end 128 of a key-operated cylinderlock 129 against inward axial displacement. For protection of the lock129, a guard washer 131) having a central key slot is revolvably mountedin the bore portion 118 between the face of the lock and the boss 114.

The lock 129 comprises a Icylinder 136 with threaded partiallycylindrical portions 138 and intermediate diametrically opposed parallelflat portions having axially extending integral keys 142. For retainingthe cylinder 136 against angular displacement within the bushing 116there are integrally formed Ion the bushing adjacent the inner facethereof a pair of lateral projections 137 with opposed edges engagingthe flat portions 140 of the cylinder and with slots receiving the keys142. The lock 129 incorporates a key-operated plug 139 which in thepresent embodiment has an inwardly projecting mounting nut or camsupport 141 contoured for receiving a stop cam plate 143 and a bolt camplate or locking lever 145, the cam plates 143, being detachablyretained on the cam support 141 by a lock washer 147 and a screw 148threaded to the plug. The stop cam plate 143 cooperates with a stop 144formed on the inner face of the lock cylinder to limit the angularfreedom of displacement of the plug to substantially 90, and the boltcam plate is positioned to overlie the bolts as seen in FIG. 2. Fortranslating the angular displacement of the plug 139 into lateralrectilinear displacement of the bolts, the bolt cam plate 145 isprovided with a pair of camming slots 150 and the bolts are providedwith upstanding pins or followers received therein, it being understoodthat when the door is fully inserted in the recess `12 of the receptacleand the bolts are fully extended as shown in FIG. 2 the bolts arepositioned to overlie the plates 38 between the lu-gs 46 (FIG. l) tolock the door.

For facilitating assembly and removal of the lock subassernbly 110, thebushing 116 is provided with an elongated or oblong radial flange or endface 1545 having diametrically opposed radially extending flangepor-tions 156 and intermediate parallel fiat portions 15S, andthe baseportion 92 and the cover plate 86 of the bolt subassembly are providedwith oblong openings 160, 162 substantially conforming thereto for axialinsertion of the bushing therethrough. For axially retaining the bushing116 on the door, the bushing is angularly offset from its insertedposition, preferably substantially 90 as shown in FIG. 3, to positionthe bushing flange 154 in overlying abutting engagement with the baseportion of the support bracket, for which purpose the base portion 92may have spot welded thereto a pair of parallel retaining plates 164,shown to be identical7 for abutment by the bushing flange 154 forincreasing the strength of the support bracket against inwarddeflection. The bushing 116 is keyed to the support bracket to retainthis abutting engagement as by a machine screw 17) threaded to theflange and having an enlarged head received in pockets formed in thecover plate 86 and the base portion 92 and engaging one of the retainingplates 164.

Thus, it can be seen that the machine screw 170 becomes accessible bythe removal of the screw 148 and the cam plate 145 and that by theadditional removal of the machine screw 170 the lock subassembly can bereadily detached from the door for repair or replacement. Additionally,the lock subassembly is firmly retained between the base portion 92 ofthe support bracket and the door and attempted destruction of the lockas by driving a tool, such as a punch, against the guard washer 130would be greatly resisted. Moreover, even if the lock plug were drivenout of the lock cylinder inwardly through the aperture in the hingebracket, the locking bolts will continue to serve to maintain the doorlocked.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modificationsand adaptations of the structure above described will become readilyapparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a parking meter coin receptacle assembly comprising a coinreceptacle having an access door and a door lock assembly mounted on theinside of the door for locking the door, the improvement wherein thedoor lock assembly comprises a bolt subassembly fixed to the inside ofthe door having a support plate with a laterally extending generallyflat base portion and a pair of upstanding laterally spaced sideflanges, a cover plate on the fla-t base portion having a pair oflaterally spaced bridge portions defining with the base portion a pairof coaxial laterally extending channels, said side flanges having slotsaligned with the channels, and a pair of flat locking bolts laterallyreciprocable within the channels and the aligned slots, said cover platehaving opposed edges between the channels providing edge bearings forthe locking bolts; and a adjacent its inner end and said base portionhaving a generally conforming elongated opening for axially receivingthe bushing for installation and removal of the lock subassembly, thesupport plate having strengthening plate means adjacent the elongatedopening engageable by the elongated end face when in angularly offsetrelationship with the elongated opening to prevent inward axialdisplacement of the bushing, fastener means threaded to the bushing forkeying the bushing to the support plate in said angularly offsetrelationship, a key-operated lock within the lock bushing, a rotatablelock guard washer having a key slot therein revolvably mounted withinthe bore portion between the boss and the key-operated lock, andlock-operated means for reciprocating the bolts.

2. In a parking meter coin receptacle assembly comprising a coinreceptacle having an access door with a key opening and a door lockassembly mounted on the inside of the door having a bolt subassemblywith a laterally extending bolt support fixed to the door and akey-operated lock subassembly for operating the bolt subassembly mountedon the door in axial alignment with the key opening, the improvementwherein the bolt support comprises a support bracket with a laterallyextending base portion, a cover plate on the base portion having a pairof laterally spaced bridge portions defining with the base portion apair fof coaxial laterally extending channels, and a pair of fiatlocking bolts laterally reciprocable within the channels; wherein thelock subassembly comprises a generally cylindrical detachable housing inaxial alignment with the key opening having an outer open end ro--tatably supported on the door and an oblong inner end face in abuttingengagement with the base portion of the support bracket, and a key lockmechanism supported within the generally cylindrical housing againstinward movement relative thereto and removable from the housing throughthe outer open end thereof with the housing detached from the door;wherein the base portion of the support bracket has an oblong opening inaxial alignment with the key opening substantially conforming to saidoblong end face for axially installing or removing the lock housing withthe key lock mechanism therein when the oblong end face is in an angularalignment therewith; and wherein the door lock assembly comprises meansfor keying the generally cylindrical housing Ito the support bracketwith the oblong end face in nonaligned angular relationship with theoblong opening and in abutting engagement with the base portion of thesupport bracket.

3. In ya parking meter coin receptacle assembly comprising :a coinreceptacle having an access door with a key opening, and a door lockassembly mounted on the inside of the door having la bolt subassemblyfixed to the `door and -a key-operated lock sub-assembly -for actuatingthe bolt subas-sembly mounted in 4axial alignment with the key opening;the improvement wherein the bolt `subassembly comprises a supportbracket with a late-rally cxtending generally flat base portion, -a pairof upstanding -laterally spaced side flanges, and a cover plate on thefiat base portion between the side flanges having a pair of laterallyspaced bridge portions defining with the base portion a pair 'of coaxiallaterally extending channels, said side flanges having slots alignedwith the channels, and a pair .of flat looking bolts laterallyreciprocable within the channels and the aligned slots, said cover plateIhaving opposed edges inwardly of the channels providing edge bearingsfor Ithe locking bolts, said aligned slots being dimens-ioned to provideadditional edge bearings on the yside flanges outwardly of the channels,said base portion having an opening therein between the bolts axiallyaligned with the key opening forreceiving the lock subassembly, andfastener means for securing the support bracket to the inside of thedoor; whe-rein the door has an inwardly extending boss coaxial with thekey opening; wherein the lock subassernbly comprises -a -generallycylindrical detachable housing in axial alignment with the key openinghaving `an outer `open end rotatably supported on the inwardly extendingboss and an oblong inne-r end face in abutting engagement with thegenerally flat base portion of the support bracket and a key lockmechanism supported within the generally cylindrical housing againstinward movement relative thereto and removable from the yhousing throughthe outer open end thereof with the housing detached from the door;wherein the base por-tion of `the support bracket has `an oblong openingin axial Ialignment with the key opening substantially conforming tosaid oblong end face of the housing for axially installing or removingthe lock subassembly .therethrough with the oblong end face -0f thehousing in angular alignment therewith; and wherein the door lookassembly comprises means for keying ythe elongated gen- 15 erallycylindrical housing to the support bracket with the oblong end face oflthe housing in non-aligned augmlar relationship with the elongatedopening and in abutting engagement with the base portion of the supportbracket.

References Cited by the Examiner 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,617,28811/1952 Hindes 70-416 3,056,544 10/1962 Sollenberger et al. 232-163,065,623 11/ 1962 Regan 70-370 3 ,150,513 9/ 1964 Wellekens 70-3 70 103,204,43 8 9/ 1965 Sollenberger 70-417 FOREIGN PATENTS 377,447 6/ 1 9123Germany. 825,218 12/1951 Germany.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A PARKING METER COIN RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A COINRECEPTACLE HAVING AN ACCESS DOOR AND A DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THEINSIDE OF THE DOOR FOR LOCKING THE DOOR, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN THEDOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY COMPRISES A BOLT SUBASSEMBLY FIXED TO THE INSIDE OFTHE DOOR HAVING A SUPPORT PLATE WITH A LATERALLY EXTENDING GENERALLYFLAT BASE PORTION AND A PAIR OF UPSTANDING LATERALLY SPACED SIDEFLANGES, A COVER PLATE ON THE FLAT BASE PORTION HAVING A PAIR OFLATERALLY SPACED BRIDGE PORTIONS DEFINING WITH THE BASE PORTION A PAIROF COAXIAL LATERALLY EXTENDING CHANNELS, SAID SIDE FLANGES HAVING SLOTSALIGNED WITH THE CHANNELS, AND A PAIR OF FLAT LOCKING BOLTS LATERALLYRECIPROCABLE WITHIN THE CHANNELS AND THE ALIGNED SLOTS, SAID COVER PLATEHAVING OPPOSED EDGES BETWEEN THE CHANNELS PROVIDING EDGE BEARINGS FORTHE LOCKING BOLTS; AND A KEY-OPERATED LOCK SUBASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THEDOOR IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE KEY OPENING FOR OPERATION OF THERECIPROCAL BOLTS; AND WHEREIN THE DOOR IS PROVIDED WITH AN INWARDLYPROJECTING BOSS SUBASSEMBLY COAXIAL WITH THE KEY OPENING THEREIN; SAIDLOCK SUBASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BUSHING HAVING A BORE PORTION RECEIVINGTHE INWARDLY PROJECTING BOSS, SAID BUSHING HAVING AN ELONGATED END FACEADJACENT ITS INNER END AND SAID BASE PORTION HAVING A GENERALLYCONFORMING ELONGATED OPENING FOR AXIALLY RECEIVING THE BUSHING FORINSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF THE LOCK SUBASSEMBLY, THE SUPPORT PLATEHAVING STRENGTHENING PLATE MEANS ADJACENT THE ELONGATED OPENINGENGAGEABLE BY THE ELONGATED END FACE WHEN IN ANGULARLY OFFSETRELATIONSHIP WITH THE ELONGATED OPENING TO PREVENT INWARD AXIALDISPLACEMENT OF THE BUSHING, FASTENER MEANS THREADED TO THE BUSHING FORKEYING THE BUSHING TO THE SUPPORT PLATE IN SAID ANGULARLY OFFSETRELATIONSHIP, A KEY-OPERATED LOCK WITHIN THE LOCK BUSHING, A ROTATABLELOCK GUARD WASHER HAVING A KEY SLOT THEREIN REVOLVABLY MOUNTED WITHINTHE BORE PORTION BETWEEN THE BOSS AND THE KEY-OPERATED LOCK, ANDLOCK-OPERATED MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING THE BOLTS.